#LEGENDStheSERIES

From the time he handwrote sales tickets at the Lavines Department store as a kid, the dye was set for Kenny Bernstein to be successful in whatever endeavor he chose.
In his youngest years, Bernstein, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas, was a goals-oriented kid, and as he grew older, the pursuit of excellence only intensified. He played stick and ball sports growing up, but automobiles became his passion as soon as he became driving age. Bernstein went drag racing and shortly after getting into the straight-line sport nabbed a ride driving Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.
Bernstein understood the importance of economics on the value of drag racing and quickly realized in the early 1970s, his nitro racing "wasn't paying the bills."
As quickly as Bernstein got into drag racing on the sport's highest levels, he divested himself of the horsepower addiction in search of business success. He built many businesses, including a chain of restaurants that would inevitably fund his return to drag racing in the latter part of the decade.
Bernstein used the same approach in drag racing the second time around that he used in building personal wealth and his legend in drag racing skyrocketed. In this episode of Legends: The Series, the proclaimed King of Speed touches on several unpublicized topics including his early association with Budweiser to the many crossroads he faced along the way to stardom.
This hour-long, online documentary opens many doors into the legend of Kenny Bernstein.
For the latest in drag racing news, please visit www.competitionplus.com.

[@cskvision]

I remember watching Kenny’s championship speech at the 1996 awards ceremony. When he called up Alan Johnson and handed him the trophy, I was forever a fan of the King of Speed. A true class act in drag racing.

[@Jbobloochjr3]

Yessir! Loved him before had even more respect for the man after that. Was looking for it on the KZbin prior to this but couldn't find it but remember it.

[@bobbymonteforte3705]

Kenny is one of My Heroes I remember watching that Moment when he called up the Johnson Family to hand them the Championship Trophy I got a bit teary seeing that. Kenny This Buds for u.

[@thethirtythree482]

He handed him the check too!

[@dano2099]

Always like Kenny Bernstein and he was one of the best behind the wheel of a funny car and top fuel dragster.

[@JC-dr8ev]

What an incredible interview and incredible man. People like Kenny should be the role models of our youth.

[@redclover51]

Great articulation of racing and life's ambitions by the King , Kenny Bernstein .

[@ronaldmoparornocar9590]

Sweet loved Kenny Bernstein 👍

[@davidelam631]

My dad was the track announcer at a drag strip in Prescott, Arkansas in the early 1980's. He was friends with a man named Frank Cook. He was out of Dallas too. He was tight with Beadle, and those guys. He would come there with the Drag-On Vega and do match races with Other BB/FC's. But Frank would always talk about Kenny Bernstein. That's how KB became my favorite. But Kenny transcended the sport just like Garlits, Shirley, Beadle, and others. He's a legend and deserves all the praise, success, and accolades he's gotten. You wanna know how much of a legend KB is? If you have an iPhone, ask Siri who the King Of Speed is.

[@tobbystransmissions6046]

Awesome Sir.

[@robertruark8797]

I do so much Miss Diamond P coverage of drag racing. There never has been any better or will be any better.

[@pattys409]

THANKS YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!! I cannot get enough of this series , and eagerly await your next feature. I hope to see one on Eddie and Ercie Hill , Dean Skuza (my favorite driver) , John Lingenfelter ( comp god ) And of course Scott Kalitta . Thanks again and I really do believe that it doesn't get any better then these amazing features.

[@bluecollarcook]

Absolutely agree with you. Loved Eddie and Ercie.

[@themindseyecmh]

Id like to add Steve Evans to that list!

[@bobbymonteforte3705]

Theirs plenty that Bobby Bennett can talk to. Joe Amato The family of Gary Ormsby Dick and Kim LaHaie Don Garlits Eddie and Ercie Hill Scott Kalitta. Connie of Course Butch Leal Bruce Larson Ed McCullough Just to name a few.

[@jamescostanzo7021]

Kenny is a delight! He and his wife are both wonderful people. I am so happy he had the great careers he has had!

[@Topstreet808]

Thanks for this absolutely memorable interview.

[@Jbobloochjr3]

Can't wait for this and more this season!!

[@danlincoln8987]

I am 43 years old today, Everyone had a favorite athlete Joe Montana Berry Sanders, mine was Kenny Bernstein

[@jaysittig3451]

Awesome

[@glenwestlund4961]

A salute to Budweiser King and and Kenny Bernstein.

[@tgmidnightrider2831]

Excellent Stuffff Kenny TY…👀💪😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸…

[@spock59]

The true "King of Speed", Kenny Bernstein. Thank you sir for your contribution to the sport of drag racing. Great interview, well done Bobby!

[@raycialkowski4070]

Class act!

[@gsmoothdirtmoving73]

Awesome to hear Kenny mention my dad Leroy Goldstein

[@nitrofish1974]

Absolutely awesome 👌 a once in a lifetime experience.

[@84hurstoldsdude77]

Boy what a treat. Great content and God bless you Kenny.

[@boblongdickder6178]

Kenny Bernstein a Class Act I've watched you race for many years and I enjoyed every second of it thank you

[@bootnyfonzworthcollier1692]

Man love this show huge drag racing fan been going for years Darlington Rockingham Bristol Gainesville Atlanta talked with Kenny several times great guy always one of my favorites and to see early footage of him beating a young John force nothing better thanks so much for this it's as if someone read my mind

[@Jbobloochjr3]

Man I'm jealous you got to see old Bristol, Darlington, and Rockingham

[@markjohnson7572]

I was like wow....1:02hr. I don't think I want to sit through all of that in one sitting, but once I hit the play button I was welded to my chair! Great job Bobby.

[@kris.pbaken8973]

Always and Forever! The King of Speed. Kenny Bernstein

[@f86sabjf]

Was there that day in Gainesville . The energy was amazing .

[@kennethbode2017]

If you knew nothing about NHRA you knew who Kenny Bernstein was. He owes a lot to Budweiser

[@NM-eb5ej]

The Hills need a series.

[@GoingBracketRacing]

Can't tell you how glad I am this is back up and going! Legends the series is awesome! Love hearing from the greats, and very interesting to see what they had to do vs what drivers today have to do to succeed.

[@scottyskydog]

One of the greats! Had the pleasure of watching him race an win! We were fortunate enough to meet him living in Newport Beach , Ca. All I can say is Kenny’s a class act and a truly nice person! Thank you for all the great memories!

[@skip1835]

Bernstein, along with Armstrong, meant the world to me and my girl, when Kenny and Dale hooked up it was like magic to us - the lock up clutch - WOW - now that was COOL!! Remember the towel hiding Dale's cleverness? - - - I have a picture of my girl that I was able to take in Englishtown one year - she's up against the middle of the Budwiser big rig with her arms outstretched, I was able to get most of the rig in the shot, it's such a cool picture - one of those life's moments that is still a trill for us - to this very day that picture has a prominent place in my home - Great interview, thank you tons for posting it, fantastic! Kind of tough to hold back the emotions seeing the wreck again, even after all these years - it's stunning and hard to believe, but thank gawd Kenny, for the most part, was able to walk away.

[@geraldshepperson5390]

Really good guy

[@johntrgovich4717]

Great interview and his story's sooo classy of a person

[@danlincoln8987]

The Ford tempo was my favorite funny car that Kenny drove

[@bugme9085]

Yeap Dan, mine too,I still have the 1/8 scale model funny car ford tempo in my collection .

[@Ratsass3]

Great enterveiw Bobby. very informitive and the real personallity of Kenny showed in his answers and in his face as he spoke about his time on and off the track . class act from the both of you. THANKS A MILLION for your love of the sport and for bringing it to us the other fans also. CLASSIC.....

[@johnbehneman1546]

WOW!!!! KENNY WAS AN INNOVATOR AS WELL.!!!! THAT IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!

[@Bobbyd0052]

JUST PLAIN "AWSOME" JOB ! I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK SIR ! THIS IS LIKE WATCHING MY CHILDHOOD TV DAYS ,ALL OVER AGAIN ! PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING !🇺🇸

[@KR1736]

This is tremendous. KB is on my Mt. Rushmore of drag racers. Thank you for this.

[@randyblattner9582]

There’s no better!!

[@doctorromex7804]

Very Good, I have patiently waited for a new episode and the wait was certainly worth it. I can't wait to see more soon. Thank you

[@OttoByOgraffey]

I think Kenny could still be winning races.

[@Straitliner]

Another great job! Those were good times and his helps relive them. Thanks for this.

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@vincereynolds6092]

Great interview and awesome series. As much as I THOUGHT I knew about Kenny Bernstein the insight from listening to him takes my appreciation of the man and his accomplishments in the sport to a whole new level.

[@andyharman3022]

Another great Legends show, CP! I'm not a drag racer, but have been a fan of it for 50 years. Some of my first heroes were drag racers, and it's great to hear their stories.

[@brenta5873]

good stuff. Thank you

[@kevinkelly7348]

i was thinking about K.B. just yesterday and was wishing i knew more about him. When he was done he seemed to really divorce himself from the sport, most of the gear /cars were given to the Darryl Gwynn foundation for auction and then he vanished. He was a huge part of my life for so many years, Thank you for making this !

[@artmchugh5644]

My friend Whit Bazemore in the photo credits!!!!😀😀😀😀🏁🏁🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@judsonsnell]

I was maybe 12 or 13 years old and my dad was in marketing for Quaker State when they started working with Kenny - not just for the Budweiser NHRA team, but the Quaker State NASCAR team. Kenny was always just the coolest guy, he was always just this teenager stuck inside the body of a businessman and race car driver. I probably went to a dozen NHRA and NASCAR events as their guest and it was such a blast. Standing at the actual Christmas tree with two 7000hp dragsters taking off on either side is indescribable. But Kenny was always just such a great host. This was when he was still racing FC and the Bud King was just unstoppable. We were also there in Gainesville when Garlits took his new "microtire" dragster airborne. Yeeeesh.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST.

[@leonaparsons3629]

this guy is a first class person my wife got her pic taken with him at maple grove. she to this day coments what a classey guy he is. and thats 45 yrs after her meeting kenny the pic still hangs in her ofice todat. thank you sir fans for life!!

[@jamialmedia1102]

What a class act in all areas!

[@malcolmdyer6090]

I love these histories straight from those who were there creating. This all needs recording/documenting while it is 'fresh' for the future. It is important to know how the sport got to where it is now. One more thing, please turn up the interviewer's mike, I'm not hearing all the questions.

[@jerrytee2688]

Yeah, no doubt.

[@wardfamily111]

What a incredible story and a wonderful interview

[@buickgnx007]

What a great interview!! Kb is a true class act!

[@RichardCHudson]

Great interview with Kenny. I always thought of Kenny as a class act.

[@AddictedtoProfit]

Great job, I'm sharing it in my FB group

[@beeemm2578]

That they don't have car nicknames and schemes anymore is a goddamn tragedy

[@johnbehneman1546]

GREAT VIDEO KENNY. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND DEDICATION TO THE SPORT. I HOPE YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR IT.

[@malbrandow7382]

I was there with MAC TOOLS, it was the Inaugural MAC TOOLS GATOR NATIONALS for the 301+mph run! I still have the Commerative jacket we had made, crew shirt & believe it or not a picture with Kenny & I which hangs in my office today! I loved them days with MAC TOOLS & will cherish them the rest of my life!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Really enjoyed!!!!!

[@stevecleveland6644]

This is a great example of team work. I love how Kenny and Dale came together on how the car should be set up LOL. watch @ 28/30 min and you will understand my statement. The best way to get your point across is to have the one who is trying to get you to do something their way is having them do it there way and experience what you are saying.

[@mikewilson8996]

Great interview.

[@harrygaydosz73]

Absolutely great stuff. Kenny was one of my favorites growing up. Had fast cars and seemed like an honest to goodness good man. Always seemed so well composed and well spoken, but not one bit phoney.

[@leadfootnick4x4]

Good video and good interview

[@redherring395]

I've still got the issue of Car Craft magazine after he broke 300 MPH. He autographed the article for me at a race at Bristol. Seemed like a really nice guy

[@paulcasarez404]

Awesome video hey Kenny if you read this do you remember me by building your forever red tour top fuel dragster in 1/8th scale and having you check it out at firebird racetrack in Phoenix Arizona the year after your last ride I still have it in the case I built for it with your signature on the model and show case

[@Firepatone]

Got a photo with Kenny in the pits at Houston..he was in kill mode you could tell but he took time to take photos and sign autographs. Still have it today...we were alot younger back then. Lol

[@kmslates1973]

straight shooter

[@nealm8709]

This was when Budweiser knew its customers.

[@nickvanwhatt]

I sat in your car a long time ago when I was a kid

[@matthewwilchowy8536]

Great video, any chance of seeing a video of the grump ?

[@krogersucks45]

Must of been tough trying to figure out what would get aired and what wouldn't....Nice job.

[@competitionplus7741]

More than you can imagine. The interview had close to an hour cut out of it

[@jerrytee2688]

@@competitionplus7741 Should have left it in.

[@competitionplus7741]

@@jerrytee2688 - it was posted elsewhere in Storytellers.

[@samb198055]

How old school is that Blue Jeans and no gloves amazing 👏.

[@TheFirstBubbaBong]

Usually when interviews are conducted each person has a microphone on them. Do you think it would be a good idea to purchase another one before your next interview?

[@jerrytee2688]

Yeah, love this series/channel, but I gave up tryiny to hear the questions; just listened to the answers and deciphered what the question was.

[@pat_welsh]

Couldn't agree more. Why waste all that time and energy and not have good sound? I will say however, that it was a really good interview with Bernstein. I've been following his career since he got back in the car in fact I was at the 78 Summernationals when he debuted the Chelsea King. It was just another car in the field. Plain old 5th wheel trailer. Didn't raise many eyebrows either.. But through the years he gained momentum. What most don't realize is how little the budget was from Budweiser in the beginning. And that it didn't even come from the company but from their wholesalers. Around that time John Collins had one of the biggest budgets for a Funny Car and he was only getting a 100 grand for a season! Bernstein was putting a lot of his own money into that car for many many years. I would have liked to have heard more about the speed secrets in getting the 300 mile hour run. Wes Cerny, he was the man behind that effort and and his ability to tweak cylinder heads.

[@halseyknox]

Man I love these " Legends" episodes. You think you sort of know these guys enough anyway to have an opinion then find out you were wrong or at least biased. Not saying I ever disliked Kenny but my biased opinion came with the "Batcar" which I was not a fan of and, then swtching to top fuel. I loved that era of funny car when they still did REAL burnouts and dry hops but also maintained the looks of the make and model of the car. Kenny was someone that pushed that era with the ford sponsorship in a positive direction through use of a wind tunnel without crossing the line, although the stretched out version of his tempo funny car to me, was real close but, in my mind not crossing that line. Anyway the guy is a class act I tip my hat to him and all his accomplishments in drag racing along with all the work and risk taking along the way. I dont really care about drag racing anymore nor watch it because its just not the same any more to me. I really liked the nostalgia racing for a long time but now it to has gone from the direction that was once was a representation of the late 70's early 80's to more of a modern take on the way things use to be and the guys with the deep pockets forcing the less financed hobbyist weekend warrior out

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: MOTORSPORTS ARE ALWAYS INNOVATIVE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY.

[@bill3213]

👍

[@rubentrujillo7262]

Bobby Great Interview but you need to have a Mic on you also so we can hear what saying but great interview 👍

[@TheBobSaget]

8:05 Holy shit that list

[@AliasMark69]

Orange County International Raceway..... O.C.I.R. - “The County“…."The Super Track" I helped build the track at only 13 years old in July 1967. They gave us tickets to the first event and I was infected, injected addicted to drag racing since. I was at the track over 100 times for the next 18 years until "The Last Drag Race" Oct 29th 1983. I always wanted to make a scale track so I finally hit ebay and bought every legendary car I could find that I saw at the track prior to 83. My one of a kind Tribute display has over 400 cars and a scale 22 foot drag strip. With a monitor playing every video I could find on the track. This one will be added. I made a video of my display that is at my page

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

PEOPLE SAY NICE GUYS DON'T WIN KENNY PROVED EM WRONG

[@bobcrawford5083]

all good interview..but the adds every 2 min kill it....grrr

[@shanecartwright539]

I grew up in hobbs..race at air base .?.

[@andyharman3022]

Invest the $10 per month for KZbin Red to get rid of the commercials. It's very much worth it.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: HOT WHEELS RE ISSSUE BUDWEISER KING FUNNY CARS AND TOP FUEL.

[@joen5332]

I thought Eddie Hill was the 1st top fuel driver to go 300MPH. Years ago Don Garletts had a slick from his car that had Eddie Hill wrote on it and said 1st 300MPH run on it in the museum.

[@CompetitionPlusTV]

Hill was first into the fours

[@colinmunro7337]

Awesome,but Kenny won't mention the "incident" in the line up for victory lane involving a comp team from Texas in 92 at the Keystone nats.

[@FINALSTRIKE94]

??

[@colinmunro7337]

@@FINALSTRIKE94 Kenny tried to pull in front of the comp team lined up for victory lane,it was nearly a full on incident.the boss had the rental tow car on the chip and threatened to jump the car over Kennys dragster if he cut in line,our comp team was ready to fight

[@michaeldunavin]

Why would the interviewer not be Miked up mic'd up??? Hate that you can hardly hear the questions

[@nflisrigged1395]

300 MPH

[@joen5332]

The interviewer needed to be mic'd up better most of the time you couldn't make out what he was saying

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: : BUDWEISER MOTORSPORTS.

[@johnbehneman1546]

SUGGESTION: RETURN TO MOTORSPORTS.

[@josecantu5753]

The guy interviewing sounds like Charlie Browns teacher . No volume .

[@myretirementlife8731]

I cant believe 768 views and only 77 likes! On the subject of that "batmobile" body, Yes, it was the start of ruining funny cars, but I can't blame Kenny & Dale because if they didn't do it someone else would have. It's way too out of control now.

[@pat_welsh]

Jim Head had a pretty goofy looking Cutlass that same year.

[@andyharman3022]

Pro Stock, too. The cars need to look more like what people drive on the street.

[@dockey6942]

I thought Bernstein was from oklahoms

[@robertclark3010]

Bad audio.need 2 mics

[@durrellcraft8959]

He skipped the ford tempo year's